Search Results for: indie rock

As I write this, iTunes ranks as the 2nd largest seller of music in the U.S. — only Wal-Mart’s physical stores sell more. Digital revenue is real, and there is a lot of it being earned. Sales from iTunes alone can provide a band enough revenue to achieve true financial success. Don’t take my word for it, just look at some of the sales by the following unsigned artists utilizing the Net for both digital distribution and marketing: Kelly sold over 500,000 songs in five months, Eric Hutchinson sold 120,000 songs in three weeks, The Medic Droid sold over 25,000… Read more »

When the Redwalls recently performed on David Letterman’s “Late Show,” it wasn’t just a boost for the indie rock band trying to make a name for itself. It was also a point of pride for the band’s label – student-run MAD Dragon Records at Drexel University. “Everyone around the country could see something that we were working on,” said junior Amanda Melczer, 20. At a school more known for engineering and technology, Drexel’s music industry program is an emerging gem. It’s one of the most selective programs at the Philadelphia university, with close to 600 applications for 54 freshman seats,… Read more »

“We grew up in a small town and didn’t know anything about the music industry or major labels,” he recalled. “All I knew was that Nirvana had signed to Sub Pop, and I thought that was cool.” Although Hot Hot Heat got its start as a screamo band, by the time it made contact with Sub Pop, its sound had mutated into what would soon be known as dance-punk. The band stood at the forefront of a movement that would explode on the indie rock scene within another year. Sub Pop head of A&R (artists and repertoire) Tony Kiewel realized… Read more »

Internet radio is not as big as terrestrial radio. In fact, it takes the combined audience of every station on shoutcast.com to equal the listener numbers KROQ, the nation’s top Rock station. That’s not to say that some station owners do not one day dream of becoming as large as their traditional terrestrial counterparts. However, the royalty rates being demanded by the RIAA will not only put many internet radio stations out of business, but will also ensure that internet radio will never, ever become that large. The process in which internet radio rates have been presented to the public… Read more »

Young indie rockers Arctic Monkeys, who made history with Britain’s fastest-selling debut album in 2006, are out to prove they are no one-hit wonders with their second record released on Monday. Critics wonder if the weight of expectation will be too much for the musicians from the northern city of Sheffield, among the first to make it big by harnessing the power of the Internet. Alexis Petridis, music critic for the Guardian newspaper, called “Favourite Worst Nightmare” arguably the most anticipated second album in a decade. Judging by early reviews and the reaction of fans at gigs across the country,… Read more »

The Killers and the Arctic Monkeys, indie rockers from opposite sides of the Atlantic, took two trophies apiece Wednesday at Britain’s prestigious music-industry awards, the Brits. Las Vegas natives The Killers, who broke out in Britain before finding success at home, were named international group of the year at the British equivalent of the Grammys. They also took the international album prize for “Sam’s Town.” Infectious rockers the Arctic Monkeys – who released Britain’s fastest-selling debut album after building a cult Internet following – were named best British band. The Sheffield quartet also took the British album prize for “Whatever… Read more »

Bright Eyes, aka singer/songwriter Conor Oberst, will be in London next month for a one-off live date, Sound Generator can confirm. The indie rock darling releases a new album in April, “Cassadaga”, with a single, “Four Winds”, coming a week prior, and Oberst plans to debut the new cuts to British fans on March 16th with a date at the Koko club in London. Tickets are on sale from Friday, Feb. 9. Click here to buy online.

After all the work entailed by the simultaneous release of the analog-sounding I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning and the electronica-tinged Digital Ash in a Digital Urn a little more than two years ago, Bright Eyes mastermind Conor Oberst says he wised up. “I think we had enough of the double record last time,” he laughed. “It was pretty hectic, and the tour that followed, to promote both albums, ended up being a lot on us. We’re trying to be a little smarter this time around. The idea was definitely to make one strong album that made sense.” That album, Cassadaga,… Read more »

Well, what an unexpected surprise: a U.S. band willing to bite the bullet and cross the border under their own volition while not promoting an album! That will be the case when Modest Mouse head to Toronto to play a show on Olympic Island on June 26. What’s the catalyst for the show, you ask? Why, it’s Toronto’s own uber-famous indie act, Broken Social Scene. Not satiated by simply appearing at last year’s successful cancon rock show on the island, they decided to go out and bring in the biggest indie rock band on the planet right now. Since Broken… Read more »